Title - New Pune-Mum train likely Central Rly Yet To Decide On Proposed Train’s Timing, Halts

Pune: The Central Railway is considering a proposal to run an additional train between Pune and Mumbai.
    The new train could be operated between Lokmanya Tilak terminus, Kurla, and Shivajinagar in Pune. Railway officials are working on a plan to make provision for a rake and a suitable time slot for the train.
    Officials said the schedule for the new train will be such that timings of other trains between Pune and Mumbai and Mumbai-Bhusaval will not be affected. The issue is being discussed with local MPs and authorities concerned.
    There has been a longpending demand for an additional train between Pune and Mumbai, especially between 10 am and 3 pm, as there is no train on the route during this time of the day.
    Central Railway general manager Subodh Jain said, “The new train will benefit a large number of daily commuters. However, technical issues like availability of rake and time slot need to be resolved.” He was in the city to attend the 55th foundation day function of the Indian Railways Institute of Civil Engineering (IRICEN).
    Jain said the administration was also considering improvement in rail connectivity within 500 km radius of Pune station. New trains to Solapur, Hubli and Amravati will help improve such connectivity, he said.
    The general manager said that passengers have complained that the railways helpline numbers were not accessible through mobile phones. “The department concerned has been told to identify mobile service providers that are not providing the helpline service free of cost,” he said.
    Meanwhile, IRICEN, the railways’ centralized training institute, celebrated its 55th foundation day on Tuesday. The function was attended by Kul Bhushan, a member of Engineering, electrical railway board. Bhushan emphasized on the need for improving the capability of the engineering department. He said that the IRICEN has taken many steps for development of training infrastructure. C P Tayal, director of IRICEN, spoke about various steps being taken by the institute to equip officers with knowledge about advance technology.
Over 20cr for infra projects
The Central railway authorities said that the Pune division has been sanctioned more than Rs 20 crore to complete long-pending infrastructure projects, including a foot-over-bridge at the Pune station, rake maintenance yard at Ghorpadi and construction of administrative building near Pune station. Officials said the aid will help complete these projects, which have been delayed due to paucity of funds.
Extra coaches
The railways have decided to add additional coaches to six trains originating from Pune. The Pune-Mumbai-Pune Deccan express will have a second class reserved coach, Pune-Nagpur-Pune Garib rath will have a first cum third AC coach,Pune-Nagpur-Pune express will have two second class reserved coaches, Pune-Solapur-Pune and Pune-Bhusawal-Pune express will have a second class seating coach each and Pune-Secunderabad-Pune Shatabdi express will have one AC chair car coach.